Common Green Darner (Anax junius) by Twan Leenders
I was fully counting on seeing several new birds I had not come across yet in Western New York this year during yesterday’s Buffalo Ornithological Society spring bird count (and I did – what a great day to be outside it was!) However, I was very surprised to see no fewer than six Common Green Darners (Anax junius). These guys are migratory dragonflies and are usually among the first species to show, arriving on the same weather systems that bring avian migrants. The 2014 dragonfly and damselfly crop will start to emerge from their aquatic habitats in a few weeks. Can’t...
Read MoreBand-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum) by Twan Leenders
Here’s another great shot by Twan for the Meet Your Neighbours project. This Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum) netted during the summer in Chautauqua County, NY, represents a new county record. We discovered multiple new dragonfly and damselfly records in the past year and are certain there are more to come in Chautauqua and adjacent counties in 2014.
Read MoreHalloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) by Scott Kruitbosch
Happy Halloween…Pennant! A less creepy and still gorgeous creature this dragonfly is actually named the “Halloween Pennant” (Celithemis eponina). We always love finding them in the field no matter the season.
Read MoreBlue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) by Twan Leenders
Have you ever seen a Blue Dasher like this?
Read MoreDelta-spotted Spiketail: New Chautauqua County Record
An exciting non-avian find was discovered during the Roger Tory Peterson Birding Festival in June. Staff from the Roger Tory Peterson Institute were checking out local sites in Jamestown and found what turned out to be the first Chautauqua County record of the Delta-spotted Spiketail (Cordulegaster diastatops). It was located opportunistically while surveying for snakes in between bird walks. Several males of the species were patrolling a small, cool and clean stream that runs right near a roadway. Spiketails like cool forest freshwater often in the form of small clear streams and creeks...
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